Retractable Door Handles - Is It Practical?

[1young1]

While I can understand the benefits of the retractable door handles for better airflow and aerodynamics, I am concerned about some of the potential practical functionality of the door handles in certain situations. For example, how would the door handles slide out if the valet wanted to open the door for you or your passenger when you are seated inside the car? Do you need to open it from the inside first? Also, if the car was in a bad collision and the emergency first responders needed to open the door from the outside to get passengers out, how would they open the door besides breaking the windows?

These are just two situations that I thought of that could be of potential concern and hopefully, someone knows how these would be addressed.

[efusco]

While I can understand the benefits of the retractable door handles for better airflow and aerodynamics, I am concerned about some of the potential practical functionality of the door handles in certain situations. For example, how would the door handles slide out if the valet wanted to open the door for you or your passenger when you are seated inside the car? Do you need to open it from the inside first? Also, if the car was in a bad collision and the emergency first responders needed to open the door from the outside to get passengers out, how would they open the door besides breaking the windows?

These are just two situations that I thought of that could be of potential concern and hopefully, someone knows how these would be addressed.

I haven't seen the system work, but I would assume that the handles would extend whenever the car is stopped, running and in park. Not sure about the emergency situation, but rarely are the presence of door handles necessary for getting in the car by emergency responders, esp. if the accident is really severe.

[goyogi]

I *think* that when it's unlocked you can just press the door handles in and they will pop out.

[Trnsl8r]

I haven't seen the system work, ....

Has anyone?

[doug]

I took this in 2009:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrAa9M8saFg

[1young1]

Doug, thanks for the video. Just as Goyogi said, looks like you can just press the door handles and it will pop out.

[tdelta1000]

I think Tesla Motors would have worked out those details by now.

[Trnsl8r]

I don't know... If you look at the end of the Model X unveil video, you'll see the first person up on stage eventually had to reach inside and open it from the inside... Every time I've seen a beta the door handles have been "disabled".

[rlawson4]

I was really wondering if they are going to take those handles to market or redesign. I think that without 100% reliability I don't want them.

[doug]

When they brought the Model S with Roadster drivetrain (same as in the video above) to Menlo Park for another unveiling party, I got a chance to use those door handles. The one I used didn't feel particularly ergonomical. It felt milled out of aluminum and had a sharp (though slightly rounded) edge where the fingers came in contact with the handle... not curved to the contour of the hand. Didn't feel particularly robust either, very much proof of concept. Also if you watch my videos, the behavior of the handles seem less than optimal. Of course by now they've had a couple of years to refine the design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...RF1Sz-B0#t=82s